New York State HS Playoffs: 2014 Semifinals Preview

The New York State high school lacrosse season reaches its pinnacle this week as the NYSPHSAA semifinals will be held Wednesday, with the Upstate set of games taking place at Cicero-North Syracuse and the Downstate bracket held at Hofstra University on Long Island.

Like each year, Inside Lacrosse will be covering the final rounds of the Empire State’s high school championships. New York crowns three different champions in classes representing different enrollment totals — Class A, Class B and Class C. Each class is represented by more than 100 teams dispersed across New York’s large geographic area. The state is broken down into 11 sections, 10 of which have teams competing in the state playoffs that kicked off last weekend and culminates Saturday with the three championships at Hofstra.

Here’s a look at the 12 teams left in the march to the New York state championships. Be sure to follow @ILPreps on Twitter and check InsideLacrosse.com for coverage of this week’s semifinals and finals.

CLASS A

Upstate: Fayetteville-Manlius (Section III) vs. Fairport (Section V)

Fayetteville-Manlius Hornets (17-3)

Goals Per Game: 13.4

Goals allowed per game: 6.9

The Hornets pulled off an exciting 12-11 win over cross-city rival West Genesee to win the Section III Class A title, and then followed that up with a terrific defensive effort in downing Section IV’s Corning 6-4. The Hornets are balanced with one of the Syracuse area’s breakout players, Boston-bound Jack Wilson, and one of Upstate New York’s best defenders Jake Pulver (Cornell). Since a rough 1-2 start, the Hornets have been nearly perfect, with a one-goal setback to LaFayette as the only loss since early April. F-M is led by a strong group of upper classmen, a team that’s been knocking on the state playoff door for the past several years.

Fairport quietly put together one of the best resumes of the remaining bracket teams, holding wins over fellow Section V champs/state finalists Victor and Penn Yan, and beating Pittsford (for the second time) and Webster Thomas. The Red Raiders are battle-tested from competing in a stacked Section V Class A bracket. The Fairport defense has been outstanding, holding 11 consecutive opponents to less than eight goals, including a shutout of Ithaca. Earlier in the season, Fairport held West Genesee to just one goal. Fairport’s under-rated senior class has risen to the occasion, especially senior All-American midfielder Justin Kesselring. Fairport’s run to the playoffs was highighted by an unthinkable rally to down Pittsford 7-6 for the Section V Class A title.

Even with the departure of stars Luke Goldstock and Lucas Maloney and a move from Class B to Class A, the Silver Warriors still proved to be the team to beat in the Capital Region this season. Virginia-bound Mike D’Amario and a host of younger Division I-destined players have helped make Niskayuna an offensive juggernaut yet again. The Silver Warriors have only one blemish on their resume this year, a one-goal loss to undefeated Connecticut powerhouse Darien. Only a couple teams have even tested Niskayuna outside of Darien. The current roster remembers the disappointment of last year’s finish, a one-goal, last-minute loss to eventual state champ Garden City, experience that could go a long way against Massapequa.

Massapequa has come on strong and looks like a favorite to be playing on June 7 at Hofstra, emerging as arguably the best team on Long Island. Massapequa had to get through a talented Smithtown East team that took out highly-touted Smithtown West, a top-ranked team throughout the season. The Chiefs are led by Georgetown-bound midfielder Craig Berge, one of the best on Long Island, and the team’s stacked with Division I prospects. Enjoying its first Long Island championship, Massapequa not experienced at this level of the state playoffs. But the team went through a challenging schedule to get here, allowing only one opponent to score more than 10 goals. The Chiefs haven’t lost since March and playing their best lacrosse of the season.

It’s pretty amazing to see Jamesville-DeWitt back in the state semifinals just a year after losing two of the program’s all-time greats in Jordan Evans and Scott Firman. But yet here they are. The Red Rams suffered a surprising early season loss to East Syracuse-Minoa but responded by winning 17 or their next 18 games. Hartford-bound Griffin Feiner has managed to increase his productivity and has been on fire in the playoffs, leading Section III’s most productive offense and leading Section III in goals (85). The Rams defense has been keeping teams off the scoreboard this season. Only East Syracuse-Minoa, West Genesee and Vestal scored more than ten goals against J-D. This team has lots of playoff experience with six consecutive semifinal appearances, while Victor has reached the semifinals for the first time.

The first-time Section V Class B champ Blue Devils have the best sophomore class in the tournament. Ryan Maloney headlines the group, but he’s surrounded by Division I caliber players. Victory is one of the most improved teams in Section V, scoring less than nine goals per game last year and this year scoring more than 13 per outing. The Blue Devils’ only losses were to Section V Class A teams, including Fairport. The Super Sophomores at Victor are athletic and play with energy. Victor proved to be gritty too with a 10-8 win over Section VI’s Hamburg in the state quarterfinals. While experience isn’t necessarily on this team’s side at the moment, don’t look past them. And expect to see the Blue Devils in the state playoffs for the next few seasons.

The Cornhuskers pieced together an impressive resume throughout the regular season, collecting a 5-3 win against Chaminade and losing only to out-of-section and out-of-state competition. Yorktown has an outstanding group of upperclassmen. The most storied program in the Hudson Valley, Yorktown hasn’t gotten past any Long Island team in the New York State playoffs since 2003. This team is balanced and has faced as tough competition any anyone left in the state title hunt. The Cornhuskers have outscored their last six opponents 91-25, including two blowouts so far in the state playoffs.

The Owls are playing hot, defeating Manhasset in the Nassau County (Section VIII) championship and then getting past a very good Rocky Point team 10-9 to win the Long Island Championship/state quarterfinal round to advance to the Class B Downstate semifinal. The Owls have one of the best midfielders on Long Island in Binghamton-bound Joe Grossi, as well as junior attackman Gordon Purdie, whose stock is rising very quickly. Netminder Brendan McDougal was outstanding against Manhasset in the Section VIII Class B final, a game Lynbrook won in impressive fashion. Lynbrook’s lone loss this season came back on April 5. That loss to Friends Academy was the only time this season the Owls have surrendered more than 9 goals.

The Lakers have a 33-game win streak going and have a team full of players who helped capture the 2013 Class C state title. Cazenovia had one of the toughest draws of the Class C quarterfinals, facing previously undefeated Salmon River and pulling it out 7-4. The Lakers have received a huge boost this season thanks to the play of Henry Mann (Hobart), who is winning more than 75% of his draws. The possession game is helping Caz hold teams to a measly four goals per game this year. Jim Longo has his team firing on all cylinders right now, and winning another state title would almost feel like business as usual.

For as young as they are, the Penn Yan Mustangs are an experienced team, a perennial Section V champion and state playoff contender. This is the third straight semifinal appearance for Brian Hobart’s team. Penn Yan’s only losses this season came at the hands of Class A teams, including fellow section champ Fairport. Penn Yan plays a tough schedule. With the third best offense in Section V, the Mustangs have proven they can score, led by Section V Offensive Player of the Year Bradley Voigt (Syracuse). But the Mustangs have the most underrated goalie in the class of 2014 with Brandon Maciejewsi, who’s been starting since he was an eighth grader. This might be the hungriest team in the Class C playoffs. Penn Yan fell to Cazenovia last season 8-7 in a thrilling semifinal contest. This rematch is a can’t miss.

The Broncos return to the state semis after reaching the championship last year. So experience is on the side of Bronxville, a team with tremendous defense. Bronxville has allowed only 17 goals in its last six games, and has yet to lose to a Class C opponent this season. Players like Hopkins-bound Henry Grass and future Hoya Matt Behrens have been making important contributions as long-time varsity players. The Bronxville seniors and juniors were close last season, falling to Cazenovia 13-11 in the state final. The Broncos are just one game away from another shot at the title.

The lone representative from Suffolk County (Section XI) in the semifinals, the Panthers had a tough season at 11-7 so far, but none of those losses came to Class C teams, as Babylon played plenty of games against larger schools. A good number of the key seniors for the Panthers this season have been starting since they were freshman. This team is the new kid on the block in this week’s Downstate semifinals, but Babylon’s been on a roll as of late with five straight wins carrying through the Suffolk County and Long Island finales. The Panthers will have to play their best game of the season to get by a talented Bronxville team on the hunt for redemption.